jg.thefirm-第34部分

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　slid　onto　the　stool。　〃Bud　longneck；〃　he　told　the　bartender。
　　Tammy　arrived　before　the　beer。　She　was　sitting　and　waiting　on　a　crowded　bench　by　the　pool　tables。　She　wore　tight　washed　jeans；　faded　denim　shirt　and　kinky　red　high…heels。　The　hair　had　just　received　a　fresh　bleaching。
　　〃Thanks　for　ing；〃　she　said　into　his　face。　〃I've　been　waiting　for　four　hours。　I　knew　of　no　other　way　to　find　you。〃
　　Mitch　nodded　and　smiled　as　if　to　say；　〃It's　okay。　You　did　the　right　thing。〃
　　〃What's　up？〃　he　said。
　　She　looked　around。　〃We　need；　to　talk；　but　not　here。〃
　　〃Where　do　you　suggest？〃
　　〃Could　we　maybe　drive　around？〃
　　〃Sure；　but　not　in　my　car。　It；　uh；　it　may　not　be　a　good　idea。〃
　　〃I've　got　a　car。　It's　old；　but　it'll　do。〃
　　Mitch　paid　for　the　beer　and　followed　her　to　the　door。　A　cowpoke　sitting　near　the　door　said；　〃Getta　loada　this。　Guy　shows　up　with　a　suit　and　picks　her　up　in　thirty　seconds。〃　Mitch　smiled　at　him　and　hurried　out　the　door。　Dwarfed　in　a　row　of　massive　mud…eating　machinery　was　a　well…worn　Volkswagen　Rabbit。　She　unlocked　it；　and　Mitch　doubled　over　and　squeezed　into　the　cluttered　seat。　She　pumped　the　accelerator　five　times　and　turned　the　key。　Mitch　held　his　breath　until　it　started。
　　〃Where　would　you　like　to　go？〃　she　asked。
　　Where　we　can't　be　seen；　Mitch　thought。　〃You're　driving。〃
　　〃You're　married；　aren't　you？〃　she　asked。
　　〃Yes。　You？〃
　　〃Yes；　and　my　husband　would　not　understand　this　situation　right　here。　That's　why　I　chose　that　dump　back　there。　We　never　go　there。〃
　　She　said　this　as　if　she　and　her　husband　were　discriminating　critics　of　dark　redneck　dives。
　　〃I　don't　think　my　wife　would　understand　either。　She's　out　of　town；　though。〃
　　Tammy　drove　in　the　direction　of　the　airport。　〃I've　got　an　idea；〃　she　said。　She　clutched　the　steering　wheel　tightly　and　spoke　nervously。
　　〃What's　on　your　mind？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃Well；　you　heard　about　Eddie。〃
　　〃Yes。〃
　　〃When　did　you　last　see　him？〃
　　〃We　met　ten　days　or　so　before　Christmas。　It　was　sort　of　a　secret　meeting。〃
　　〃That's　what　I　thought。　He　kept　no　records　of　the　work　he　was　doing　for　you。　Said　you　wanted　it　that　way。　He　didn't　tell　me　much。　But　me　and　Eddie；　well；　we；　uh；　we　were　。　。　。　close。〃
　　Mitch　could　think　of　no　response。
　　〃I　mean；　we　were　very　close。　Know　what　I　mean？〃
　　Mitch　grunted　and　sipped　the　longneck。
　　〃And　he　told　me　things　I　guess　he　wasn't　supposed　to　tell　me。　Said　you　had　a　real　strange　case；　that　some　lawyers　in　your　firm　had　died　under　suspicious　circumstances。　And　that　you　always　thought　somebody　was　following　and　listening。　That's　pretty　weird　for　a　law　firm。〃
　　So　much　for　the　confidentiality；　thought　Mitch。　〃That　it　is。〃
　　She　turned；　made　the　exit　to　the　airport　and　headed　for　the　acres　of　parked　cars。
　　〃And　after　he　finished　his　work　for　you；　he　told　me　once；　just　once；　in　bed；　that　he　thought　he　was　being　followed。　This　was　three　days　before　Christmas。　And　I　asked　him　who　it　was。　He　said　he　didn't　know；　but　mentioned　your　case　and　something　about　it　was　probably　related　to　the　same　people　who　were　following　you。　He　didn't　say　much。〃
　　She　parked　in　the　short…term　section　near　the　terminal。
　　〃Who　else　would　follow　him？〃　Mitch　asked。
　　〃No　one。　He　was　a　good　investigator　who　left　no　trail。　I　mean；　he　was　an　ex…cop　and　an　ex…con。　He　was　very　street…smart。　He　got　paid　to　follow　people　and　collect　dirt。　No　one　followed　him。　Never。〃
　　〃So　who　killed　him？〃
　　〃Whoever　was　following　him。　The　paper　made　like　he　got　caught　snooping　on　some　rich　guy　and　was　wasted。　It's　not　true。〃
　　Suddenly；　from　out　of　nowhere；　she　produced　a　filter…tip　1000　and　shot　a　flame　at　the　end。　Mitch　rolled　down　the　window。
　　〃Mind　if　I　smoke？〃　she　asked。
　　〃No；　just　blow　it　that　way；〃　he　said；　pointing　to　her　window。
　　〃Anyway；　I'm　scared。　Eddie　was　convinced　the　people　following　you　are　extremely　dangerous　and　extremely　smart。　Very　sophisticated；　was　what　he　said。　And　if　they　killed　him；　what　about　me？　Maybe　they　think　I　know　something。　I　haven't　been　to　the　office　since　the　day　he　was　killed。　Don't　plan　to　go　back。〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　if　I　were　you。〃
　　〃I'm　not　stupid。　I　worked　for　him　for　two　years　and　learned　a　lot。　There's　a　lot　of　nuts　out　there。　We　saw　all　kinds。〃
　　〃How　did　they　shoot　him？〃
　　〃He's　got　a　friend　in　Homicide。　Guy　told　me　confidentially　that　Eddie　got　hit　three　times　in　the　back　of　the　head；　point…blank　range；　with　a　。22　pistol。　And　they　don't　have　a　clue。　He　told　me　it　was　a　very　clean；　professional　job。〃
　　Mitch　finished　the　longneck　and　laid　the　bottle　on　the　floorboard　with　a　half　dozen　empty　beer　cans。　A　very　clean；　professional　job。
　　〃It　doesn't　make　sense；〃　she　repeated。　〃I　mean；　how　could　anyone　sneak　up　behind　Eddie；　somehow　get　in　the　back　seat　and　shoot　him　three　times　in　the　back　of　the　head？　And　he　wasn't　even　supposed　to　be　there。〃
　　〃Maybe　he　fell　asleep　and　they　ambushed　him。〃
　　〃No。　He　took　all　kinds　of　speed　when　he　worked　late　at　night。　Stayed　wired。〃
　　〃Are　there　any　records　at　the　oflice？〃
　　〃You　mean　about　you？〃
　　〃Yeah；　about　me。〃
　　〃I　doubt　it。　I　never　saw　nothing　in　writing。　He　said　you　wanted　it　that　way。〃
　　〃That's　right；〃　Mitch　said　with　relief。
　　They　watched　a　727　lift　off　to　the　north。　The　parking　lot　vibrated。
　　〃I'm　really　scared；　Mitch。　Can　I　call　you　Mitch？〃
　　〃Sure。　Why　not？〃
　　〃I　think　he　got　killed　because　of　the　work　he　did　for　you。　That's　all　it　could　be。　And　if　they'd　kill　him　because　he　knew　something；　they　probably　assume　I　know　it　too。　What　do　you　think？〃
　　〃I　wouldn't　take　any　chances。〃
　　〃I　might　disappear　for　a　while。　My　husband　does　a　little　nightclub　work；　and　we　can　get　mobile　if　we　have　to。　I　haven't　told　him　all　this；　but　I　guess　I　have　to。　What　do　you　think？〃
　　〃Where　would　you　go？〃
　　〃Little　Rock；　St。　Louis；　Nashville。　He's　laid　off；　so　we　can　move　around；　I　guess。〃　Her　words　trailed　off。　She　lit　another　one。
　　A　very　clean；　professional　job；　Mitch　repeated　to　himself。　He　glanced　at　her　and　noticed　a　small　tear　on　her　cheek。　She　was　not　ugly；　but　the　years　in　lounges　and　nightclubs　were　taking　their　toll。　Her　features　were　strong；　and　minus　the　bleach　and　heavy　makeup　she　would　be　somewhat　attractive　for　her　age。　About　forty；　he　guessed。
　　She　took　a　mighty　drag　and　sent　a　cloud　of　smoke　surging　from　the　Rabbit。　〃I　guess　we're　in　the　same　boat；　aren't　we？　I　mean；　they're　after　both　of　us。　They've　killed　all　those　lawyers；　now　Eddie；　and　I　guess　we're　next。〃
　　Don't　hold　back；　baby；　just　blurt　it　out。　〃Look；　let's　do　this。　We　need　to　keep　in　touch。　You　can't　call　me　on　the　phone；　and　we　can't　be　seen　together。　My　wife　knows　everything；　and　I'll　tell　her　about　this　little　meeting。　Don't　worry　about　her。　Once　a　week；　write　me　a　note　and　tell　me　where　you　are。　What's　your　mother's　name？〃
　　〃Doris。〃
　　〃Good。　That's　your　code　name。　Sign　the　name　Doris　on　anything　you　send　me。〃
　　〃Do　they　read　your　mail　too？〃
　　〃Probably　so；　Doris；　probably　so。〃
　　　
　　　19
　　AT　five　P。M。；　Mitch　turned　off　the　light　in　his　office；　grabbed　both　briefcases　and　stopped　at　Nina's　desk。　Her　phone　was　glued　to　one　shoulder　while　she　typed　on　the　IBM。　She　saw　him　and　reached　in　a　drawer　for　an　envelope。　〃This　is　your　confirmation　at　the　Capital　Hilton；〃　she　said　into　the　receiver。
　　〃The　dictation　is　on　my　desk；〃　he　said。　〃See　you　Monday。〃　He　took　the　stairs　to　the　fourth　floor；　to　Avery's　office　in　the　corner；　where　a　small　riot　was　in　progress。　One　secretary　stuffed　files　into　a　massive　briefcase。　Another　one　spoke　sharply　to　Avery；　who　was　yelling　on　the　phone　to　someone　else。　A　paralegal　shot　orders　to　the　first　secretary。
　　Avery　slammed　the　phone　down。　〃Are　you　ready！〃　he　demanded　at　Mitch。
　　〃Waiting　for　you；〃　Mitch　replied。
　　〃I　can't　find　the　Greenmark　file；〃　a　secretary　snarled　at　the　paralegal。
　　〃It　was　with　the　Rocconi　file；〃　said　the　paralegal。
　　〃I　don't　need　the　Greenmark　file！〃　Avery　shouted。　〃How　many　times　do　I　have　to　tell　you？　Are　you　deaf？〃
　　The　secretary　glared　at　Avery。　〃No；　I　can　hear　very　well。　And　I　distinctly　heard　you　say；　Tack　the　Greenmark　file。'　〃
　　〃The　limousine　is　waiting；〃　said　the　other　secretary。
　　〃I　don't　need　the　damned　Greenmark　file！〃　Avery　shouted。
　　〃How　about　Rocconi？〃　asked　the　paralegal。
　　〃Yes！　Yes！　For　the　tenth　time。　I　need　the　Rocconi　file！〃
　　〃The　airplane　is　waiting　too；〃　said　the　other　secretary。
　　One　briefcase　was　slammed　shut　and　locked。　Avery　dug　through　a　pile　of　documents　on　his　desk。　〃Where's　the　Fender　file？　Where　are　any　of　my　files？　Why　can't　I　ever　find　a　file？〃
　　〃Here's　Fender；〃　said　the　first　secretary　as　she　stmTed　it　into　another　briefcase。
　　Avery　stared　at　a　piece　of　notepaper。　〃All　right。　Do　I　have　Fender；　Rocconi；　Cambridge　Partners；　Greene　Group；　Sonny　Capps　to　Otaki；　Burton　Brothers；　Galveston　Freight　and　McQuade？〃
　　〃Yes；　yes；　yes；〃　said　the　first　secretary。
　　〃That's　all　of　them；〃　said　the　paralegal。
　　〃I　don't　believe　it；〃　Avery　said　as　he　grabbed　his　jacket。　〃Let's　go。〃　He　strode　through　the　door　with　the　secretaries；　paralegal　and　Mitch　in　pursuit。　Mitch　carried　two　briefcases；　the　paralegal　had　two；　and　a　secretary　had　one。　The　other　secretary　scribbled　notes　as　Avery　barked　the　orders　and　demands　he　wanted　carried　out　while　he　was　away。　The　entourage　crowded　onto　the　small　elevator　for　the　ride　to　the　first　floor。　Outside；　the　chauifeur　sprang　into　action；　opening　doors　and　loading　it　all　in　the　trunk。
　　Mitch　and　Avery　fell　into　the　back　seat。
　　〃Relax；　Avery；〃　Mitch　said。　〃You're　going　to　the　Caymans　for　three　days。　Just　relax。〃
　　〃Right；　right。　I'm　taking　with　me　enough　work　for　a　month。　I've　got　clients　screaming　for　my　hide；　threatening　suits　for　legal　malpractice。　I'm　two　months　behind；　and　now　you're　leaving　for　four　days　of　boredom　at　a　tax　seminar　in　Washington。　Your　timing　is　great；　McDeere。　Just　great。〃
　　Avery　opened　a　cabinet　and　mixed　a　drink。　Mitch　declined。　The　limo　moved　around　Riverside　Drive　in　the　rush…hour　traffic。　After　three　swallows　of　gin；　the　partner　breathed　deeply。
　　〃Continuing　education。　What　a　joke；〃　Avery　said。
　　〃You　did　it　when　you　were　a　rookie。　And　if　I'm　not　mistaken